Lots of memories from last year, but I read about it everyday for a few months in the Times, even getting kind of bored with it, but reading anyway. Washing my hands at the taco truck I was going to everyday, and just feeling a little uneasy. Early February talking with my Dad and his friend about it, I thought it would be like H1N1, and that the difference was, rather than the severity of the pandemic was my interest in the coverage. I read in 2009, but mostly local news and Mexico stuff, not the NY Times or any of that. I assumed the coverage was the same in 2009, but I wasn't paying attention.
Then, in early March/first week of, the coverage got redder and more ominious BREAKING NEWS and cases were in San Diego. I went to the movies on the 9th of March, (The Way Back w/ Ben Affleck) and that week I knew it was going to be something that would be in our lives for a long time. I woke up everyday and went to the NY Times, before even out of bed, and every day it was worse that week. I remember the kind of foreboding calm before the storm at the theater, the ramen spot, everywhere.
Then, on the 13th, I went to get groceries with my Dad, after I said we should go get some supplies, and everyone was wearing gloves and masks, or at least 30%, and it was clear it had arrived. Darker memories still, is on the 13th, one of my best friends who I had been avoiding for about 2 years hit me up to help him move, and I said yes, in the spirit of the moment or whatever. And I end up in his car, he's totally strung out on heroin, and I am sick to my stomach, but I just sat there until we got back, and didn't say a word. I just wanted to get my Mom some toilet paper and groceries.